This year’s National Character and Leadership Symposium was the best yet.  All cadets participated in the three day event; 36 speakers addressed the cadets and visitors from other schools.  Rowe Stayton was one of the most popular speakers; the cadets seemed impressed that the class of ’73 has both the most senior and most junior ranking grads on active duty…of any service academy.  A good number of ’73 grads attended NCLS to see how our money was being spent as well as to help with the program.  Some first-time-to-attend classmate impressions follow.  Bob Decker:  “The conference was spectacular.  The speaker line-up was phenomenal.  I couldn’t get to hear every one I would have liked to have; you had too many excellent choices.  And nearly as important, the team kept to the schedule in an impressive manner.”  

Grant Gillig:  “The talks were extremely interesting and very passionately presented, but by far the most powerful aspect for me was the breakout, to see what the attendees were taking away from the experience.  It was refreshing to learn that the talks succeeded in getting people thinking about where they fit and how they should approach their relationship to the ‘Country's Call’.”  One of the NCLS OIC’s sent the following:  “To the AWESOME Class of '73-- THANK YOU for your support and for your feedback!  I can't tell you how encouraging it is for us to see your class embrace and champion the mission of USAFA in such tangible ways.  As a graduate, I am particularly proud to be associated with you.  Now if only I could get my own class as involved...”